Engine starting mechanism



Juy 3 1934.. R. M. NARDONE ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 14, 19322 Sheets-Sheet 1 My E, 934 R. M. NARDONE MINE STARTING MEcHAN-sm FiledNov. 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Romeo /Vardone Patented `iuly 3,1934 ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Borneo M. Nardone, East Orange, N. J.,assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 14, 1932, SerialNo. 642,667

( 10 Claims.

This invention relates to engine starting mechanism and moreparticularly to means for starting an internal combustion engine by theappli-- cation of a turning or cranking effort to the crankshaft, orsome member connected therewith.

An objectof the invention is to provide a novel engine starter of theforegoing character in which the cranking eiort may be developedmanually,.

mechanism of a charactervsimilar tcthat of the present invention,v andinvolving alternative power and manual operating means, a constructionwherein the power meansanditspperating connections may be automaticallydisengaged when the starter is operated through the manual means. Thepresent invention, while directed in part to the attainment of thesame'ultimate result, to wit, prevention of a drive back to the powermeans during manual operation, achieves the same ultimate result bydiiferent means, namely, the substitution of an interlocking connectionbetween the manual and power means, rather than la disengagingconnection, as shown in the above identied Lansing patent. v Anotherobject of the inventionis to provide in a combined motor and manuallyoperated starter of the foregoing character, novel transmission meansincluding a gear train having a plurality of constantly meshed parts,certain o f which remain-locked `during manual cranking to absorb thereaction of the other parts `in mesh rsorb the reaction of the iirstmentioned parts. In the preferred embodiment as shown, the noveltransmission and interlocking mechanism includes a plurality ofplanetary gear sets con-y nected in series, and having a commonVannularl or orbit gear which is interlocked with the manual meansduring lmotor operation, and a central or sun gear which is interlockedwith the motor frame during manual operation. During 65 both motor andmanual operation the cranking effort is transmitted to the engine.engaging member through the idler elements, or planets,

of the gear train, the planet pinions of the last stage of the geartrain being drivably connected with said engineengaging member,preferably through the instrumentality of an adjustable torque limitingclutch. v

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when read with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.l It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are forthe purpose of illustration vonly and are not designed as a definitionof the limits of the invention, reference being hadV for such purpose tothe appended claims. 'i0

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of the device embodying theinvention;

Figs. 2 and 3.are transverse sectional views taken along the lines 2-'2and 3-3 respectively 76 of Fig. 1.

Referring tothe drawings and particularly to Fig. l, the invention isshown embodiedin a housing constituted by an inner section 3 Vand anouter section 4 having a suitable ange 5 to receive bolts 80 6 fordetachably connecting said sections. The inner section 3 is providedwith a flange 7 for engagement with a mounting iiang 8 formed on theengine casing, and through which the fastening means 9 are inserted.Secured within sec- 85 tion 4 is an electric motor provided with acasing 10 integral with section 4 and having openings to receive screws12 which may be employed vwan 16 interposed between the casing sectionss and.4.` Drivably connected to the reduced portion 14 of the armatureshaft is a pinion i7 constituting the sun gear of the rst set of theplanetary gear train above referred to, the said sun gear 17 havingassociated therewith a portion of the novel interlocking means now to bedescribed. a

The portion of the-novel interlocking-means which is associated with thesun gear 17 prefer-'- ably includes an overrunning' clutch mechanism,

the innerrace 21 of which is shown asintegral with the sungear 17, thecombined sun gear 105- and vinner race being suitably secured to ftheshai't 14 as indicated at 22. I

As shown in Figs. i. and 3, the outer race -23'of the clutch is`flangedv as indicated at 24 and through this iiange suitable fasteningmeans 25 11 pass to firmly secure said outer race to the motor casing 4,the fastening means 25 also serving in the present embodiment as themeans for retaining the transverse plate 16 in position after it hasbeen properly located by means of the locating pin 27. As shown best inFig. 3 the inner race 21 has a plurality of cut out portions formingpockets 29 in each of which is received a roller 31 constantly urged bythe spring pressed plungers 32 into rolling contact with the surfaces ofboth the pockets 29 and the inner periphery of the outer race 23. It isto be-understood however that this specific form of clutch is notessential and any other form of one way clutch may be substitutedtherefor so long as it permits free rotation of the inner race 21 withthe motor-shaft 14 when the latter is energized to cause rotation in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 3. When, however, the starter is manuallyenergized it is desirable to lock the motor-shaft 14 against rotation sothat the sun gear 1'1 may take the reaction necessary for the properoperation of the planetary gear train. During motor operation thisreaction is taken through the self locking mechanism associated with theremainder of the gear train and now to be described.

The manual operating means preferably includes a worm 33 mountedtransversely in a housing 35 of the casing section 3, and having threadswhich mesh with the teeth 34 formed on the outer circumferential surfaceof the central portion 36 of an annular member 37 fitting within bearingsurfaces 38 and 39 respectively of the aligned casing sections 3 and 4and constituting the orbit member of the planetary gear train. On theinner surface of the member 37 a plurality of (herein shown as 4) setsof gear teeth are provided, each set being engaged by a plurality ofpinions 41, constituting t e planets of the gear train. As shown best inFig. 2, there are preferably three planets 41 in each set, each planetcontaining a. sleeve bearing 43 facilitating free rotation about thecorresponding one of the stub shafts 46 by which each is secured to anarm 4'7 of the respective mounting cages 48a, 48b and 48C, the hubs 49of which have toothed extensions 50 constituting sun gears adapted tomesh with the succeeding set of planet pinions 41. The cage 48d in whichthe last set of planet pinions 41 is mounted however has no sun gearextension on its hub 53, but the said hub is apertured to receive theupset end 54 of a shaft 55 which extends centrally through and supportsthe cages 48, and is adapted to receive a series of spacer sleeves 56which facilitate free rotation of the gear sets about the said shaft 55.The last of the cages, indicatedby numeral 48d, also differs from theothers in that it l. .s a cylindrical rim 60 extending laterallytherefrom and is secured against axial displacement by the provision ofan annular ring 62 extending into a. groove 63 formed near the outer endof the rim or barrel 60 and apertured for reception of screws 64 whichhold the ring to the housing. This portion of the housing has an innercylindrical surface supporting the barrel 60 for free rotation therein.

A multiple disc clutch is preferably provided in association with thebarrel 60 to insure relative rotary movement between the engine engagingmember and the train of gearing above described whereby the latter isprotected from damage due to an excessive shock or load. As shown, thedisc clutch comprises a plurality of interleaving discs 79, alternatelysplined to'inner surface of the barrel 60 and the outer surface of ashell 80, internally threaded to engage a correspondingly threaded screwshaft '75, to be further described. Resilient means, such as a pluralityof coiled compressionsprings 8l, the pressure of which is adjustable bya nut 82 threadedly engaging the end 83 of the shell 80, are provided topres's upon a ring 85 surrounding member 80. and thus maintain the discs'79 in frictional engagement with a pressure sufcient to insuretransmission of torque from barrel 60 to shell 80, up to a predeterminedcapacity.

Fitted over the inner end of the starter is a cup-shaped member 110 thatis preferably formed of metal and is provided with a flange 111 adaptedto be clamped between iiange '7 of the starter housing and the engineange 8. The inner portion of member 110 is bent inwardly toward jawmember 96 as at 112 and is provided with a central opening which isslightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the jaw member96. Preferably member 110 is strengthened adjacent Said opening by beingbent or curved, as at 113, the lip thus formed serving to receive asplit ring 121 composed of a plurality of segments each of which has aninwardly extending tooth or lug 122 engageable with correspondinglyspaced grooves 123 cut along the peripheral surface of clutch member 96.A toroidal spring 124 sur rounds the split ring 121, resting in anannular groove formed in the periphery thereof. This spring 124 servesto yieldingly restrain the ring 121, and hence the clutch element 96,against immediate rotation in response to the initial rotary movement ofthe member 80, and thus cooperates with the members 80 and 75 inconverting the initial rotary movement into an axial movement of themember which axial movement is effective to move the clutch element 96into mesh with the engine member 97.

In order to prevent seepage of oil through the central openings inmember 110, the latter preferably carries a washer 114 which may beformed of leather or equivalent material. Normally the inner portion ofwasher 114 is held in engagement with the adjacent surface of the headof jaw member 96 by means of a washer 115 which slidably surrounds theouter cylindrical surface of the member 96. If desired, a metal ring 126may be provided to clamp the washer 114 to the cap member 110.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when manual operation isdesired. rotation of the worm 33 through the instrumentality of thecranking shaft 128 pinned to the worm shaft 33 as indicated at 129 inFig. 2 and having a socketed end 131 for the reception of a removablehandcrank. Upon application of the handcrank, the worm 33 may be rotatedto cause rotation of the annular gear 37 at a much reduced speed and ina clockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 2, with a correspondingrotation of all four sets of planetary pinions 41 in a direction tendingto rotate the sun gear 1'7 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 3. Such rotation of sun gear 17 is impossible, however, due to thejamming action of the rollers 31 and the result is that the sun gear 17and the elements of the one way clutch take the torque reaction ,due to'the load which the planetary gears are driving, such torque reactionbeing ultimately absorbed by the stationary frame 4 to which the outerrace of the clutch is rigidly secured. As a result, the successive setsof planetary pinions 41 rotate in a clockwise direction about theirindividual axes ing, and means interposed between said races to and inso rotating carry the corresponding cages 48 about the shaft 55 in aclockwise direction and produce corresponding clockwise rotationoffriction clutch 79 and shell 80, the initial rotation of the shell beingeffective to mesh the starter jaw 96 with the engine member 97 with theassistance of the frictional retarding means above described. When thecranking action is completed and the engine starts under its own power,the resulting excess in torque on the part of the driven member 97 willcause a reverse threading action and as a result thereof the shaft willmove in an axial direction back to the normal position as indicated inFig. 1, the clutch jaw v96 being simultaneously returned through theaction of the coupling pin 98.

When the motor drive is employed the motor leads are connected in amanner to cause rotation of the armature shaft 14 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 3, in which direction the rollers 31 runfreely in the pockets 29, and do not oppose rotation of the inner race21 within the stationary outer race 23, due to the pitch and directionof lead of the threads ofthe worm 33 and the torque reaction isaccordingly taken in the elements 34 and 33, planetary pinions 41 andcages 48, which accordingly rotate in the same clockwise direction asduring manual operation.

There is thus disclosed a novel engine starting mechanism embodying theabove described features of the present invention and capable ofobtaining the above expressed objects. While the embodiment herein shownis of considerable practical merit, it `is to be understood that variouschanges may be made in the construction, arrangement and inter-'relationof the parts entering into the invention without departing from thespirit thereof, the ektent of the included variations beingascertainable by reference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An engine starter including a drive having a member adapted to engageand crank a member of the engine to be started, a housing for saiddrive, a hand operated cranking shaft journalled in said housing andoperatively connected with said drive, power means also operativelyconnected with said drive, and means including a oneway clutchresponsive' to rotation of said handcranking shaft for locking saidpower means against rotation.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination withseparate`power and manually operated shafts, a motor connected to saidpower operated shaft to drive the latter, a common housing for saidshafts, an overrunning clutch having an inner race keyed to said poweroperated shaft and an outer race rigidly held to said houspreventrotation of said power operated shaft in response to rotation of saidmanually operated shaft, said means being ineffective to restrainrotation of said power operated shaft upon energization of said motor.Y,

3. In a device of the class described, in combination with a gearY trainand a motor connected .to said gear train to drive the latter, a commonhousing for said motor and gear train, an overrunning clutch having aninner race rotatable with one element of said gear train, and an outerrace rigidly held to said housing, and means interposed between saidraces to prevent rotation of said motor in response to rotation of otherelements of said gear train, said means being ineffective to restrainrotation of said flrst named gear upon energization of said motor.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with separatepower and manually operated shafts, a gear train connecting said shafts,a motor connected to said power operated shaft to drive 'the latter, acommon housing for both said shafts, an overrunning clutch having an,inner'race rotatable with said power operated shaft and an outer racerigidly held to said housing, means interposed between said races toprevent rotation of said power operated shaft in one direction, andmeans engageable with one element of said gear train and rotatable withsaid manually operated shaft, to lock said gear element against rotationupon energization of said motor.

5. An engine starter including a drive having .a member adapted toengage and crank a memtrain drivably connected therewith, a motorconnectedto said power operated shaft to drive the gear train, a housingcommon to both said motor and gear train, an overrunning clutch havingan inner race rotatable with said power operated shaft and an outer racerigidly held to said housing, means interposed between said races toprevent rotation of said power operated shaft in one direction, andmeans engageable with one element of said gear train to lock said gearelement against rotation upon energization of said motor.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination with separatepower and manually operated shafts, a motor connected to said poweroperated shaft to drive the latter, a common housing for'both saidshafts, an overrunning clutch having an inner race rotatable with saidpower operated shaft and an outer race rigidly held to said housing,means interposed between said races to prevent rotation of said poweroperated shaft in one direction, and means rotatable with said manuallyoperated shaft for preventing rotation thereof upon energization of saidmotor and notwithstanding the mechanical connection between said powerand manually operated shafts.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination with separatepower and manually operated shafts, a motor connected to said poweroperated shaft to drive the latter, a common housing for both saidshafts, an overrunning clutch having one race rotatable with said poweroperated shaft and another race rigidly held to said housing, meansinterposed between said races to prevent rotation of said power operatedshaft in one direction, means rotatable with said manually oper--r` atedshaft for preventing rotation' thereof upon nation with separate powerand manually operated shafts, a common housing lfor both said shafts, anoverrunning clutch having an inner race rotatable with said poweroperated shaft and an outer race rigidly held to said housing, meansinterposed between said races to prevent rotation of said power operatedshaft in one direction, and means responsive to .rotation of either ofsaid shafts to establish driving connect-ion between said shaft and theengine to be started.

ROMEO M. NARDONE.

